we have two ash trees located in a meridan within the city limits. They are infested with borers. One of out city commissioners says that we can spray them with a mixture of lye,
mothball crystals, and sulfur. This is Supposed to kill the little critters. Has anyone heard of this? Does it work?

Reply to post by Neil Lambert, on February 12, 2003 at 16:42:08:

It is not a mixture I've heard of and I have no idea if it might be effective in some sort of application.

The recipe sounds like it is either from A) an old text book or B) a newer "organic" or "alternative" gardening source. In either case my first concern would be whether this mixture would be regarded as a pesticide not properly registered for application to this host for this pest. Lye can be pretty nasty stuff in any concentration. The median of a public highway is not a backyard garden.

Check with your state pesticide people or cooperative extension before you squirt this stuff around. Then, if it's OK, get some backup on efficacy, mixture rates and application.

Reply to post by Scott Cullen, on February 12, 2003 at 16:42:08:

www.msue.msu.edu/reg_se/roberts/ash/
www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/pest_al/eab/eab.htm
Check label for clearance on ash, but imadiclorprid, merit inj or soil drench work on beetles, Astro if legal (Read label) would prevent infestations. Nematodes may prove useful. But this brew would not seem long lasting enough to prevent borers & to dangerous to prevent foliar feeding by adults.